ASSEMBLY TOURISM, GAMING AND THE ARTS COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
ASSEMBLY, No. 4378
with committee amendments
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: February 7, 2019
The Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 4378.
As amended by the committee, this bill would require the New Jersey State Council on the Arts to establish an “Artist District” designation for municipalities or areas within municipalities, to establish criteria for the designation, and to work with the Division of Travel and Tourism in the Department of State to promote any Artist District as a destination for artists and visitors.
The council would establish criteria required for a municipality or area within a municipality to be designated by the council as an Artist District, including the minimum number of art related services and venues, such as businesses, galleries, museums, organizations performance halls, studios, theaters, or other facilities, that must be located in the municipality or the area within the municipality. An Artist District may also constitute a concentration of certain types of art, such as dance, literature or writing, film, music, or performing or visual arts, or types of services and venues.
The council would, within 60 calendar days, review and approve, approve with conditions, or reject an application for designation as an Artist District. Further, the council would, in consultation with the Division of Travel and Tourism, adopt guidance or standards for an Artist District to advertise, market, or promote itself as a destination for artists and visitors. An Artist District may advertise or otherwise use its designation in accordance with the guidance or standards.
Assembly Bill No. 4378 (1R) is identical to Senate Bill No. 521 (1R) of 2018-2019.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS
The committee amended the bill to remove the provision that would have capped at 25 the number of municipalities or areas that could be designated as an Artist District.